Imaging system, imaging method, and storage medium storing imaging program

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to achieve segmented image taking and merging processing of segmented images with logical consistency with high efficiency at low cost and thereby to enable easy formation of a high-definition merged image. An imaging system 10 includes a distance calculator 110 that calculates a distance from an imaging object to a fixed position of a digital camera by using a predetermined equation and stores the calculated distance; a resolution setting unit 111 that sets and stores layered resolutions; a frame layout unit 112 that executes a process for each of the resolutions, the process including forming segment frames by dividing an angle of view of an image taking range by a predetermined angle, laying out the segment frames so that focus ranges in each two neighboring segment frames overlap with each other, and storing information on a layout of the segment frames and the corresponding resolution as a segmented image taking plan; a segmented image taking command unit 113 that sends the digital camera and a motor-driven tripod head a command to take images of the segment frames from a single viewpoint for each of the resolutions, based on the segmented image taking plan, and acquires and stores a segmented image; and a segmented image merging unit 114 that executes a process for each of the segmented image taking plans, the process including forming a base image by enlarging each of captured images of a predetermined segmented image taking plan to a one-step-higher resolution, merging together segmented images obtained by a segmented image taking plan having the one-step-higher resolution by aligning each of the segmented images through pattern matching between the segmented image and the base image, and storing a merged image.

1 . An imaging system including a computer communicably coupled to a digital camera and a motor-driven tripod head therefor and configured to control image taking by the digital camera, the computer comprising:
 a distance calculator that calculates a distance from an imaging object to a fixed position of the digital camera by using a predetermined equation in accordance with a target resolution to be obtained for an image of the imaging object, a CCD resolution of the digital camera, and a focal length of a lens, and stores the calculated distance in a storage unit;   a resolution setting unit that sets layered resolutions ranging from a resolution of a captured image of the whole imaging object to the target resolution, and stores the set resolutions in the storage unit;   a frame layout unit that executes a process for each of the resolutions stored in the storage unit, the process including forming segment frames into which an image taking range is segmented by dividing an angle of view of the image taking range by a predetermined angle, laying out the segment frames so that focus ranges in each two neighboring segment frames overlap with each other, and storing information on at least a layout of the segment frames and the corresponding resolution as a segmented image taking plan in the storage unit;   a segmented image taking command unit that transmits a command to take an image from a single viewpoint for the positions of the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions, based on the segmented image taking plan containing the layout information and the resolution information stored in the storage unit, to the digital camera and the motor-driven tripod head fixed at the distance from the imaging object, acquires segmented images taken for the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions from the digital camera, and stores the acquired segmented image in the storage unit; and   a segmented image merging unit that executes a process for each of the segmented image taking plans stored in the storage unit, the process including reading each of captured images of a predetermined segmented image taking plan from the storage unit, forming a base image by enlarging the captured image to the same resolution as that of a segmented image taking plan having a one-step-higher resolution among the layered resolutions, determining a corresponding range on the base image for each of segmented images of the segmented image taking plan having the one-step-higher resolution, based on the position of the segmented image, merging the segmented images together by aligning each of the segmented images through pattern matching between the segmented image and the base image, and storing a merged image in the storage unit.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the resolution setting unit sets layered resolutions ranging from a resolution of a captured image of the whole imaging object to the target resolution, by setting a higher scaling factor between consecutive two of the resolutions as the resolutions become higher, and stores the set resolutions in the storage unit.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame layout unit executes a process for each of the resolutions stored in the storage unit, the process including forming segment frames into which an image taking range is segmented by dividing an angle of view of the image taking range by a predetermined angle, calculating diameters of circles of confusion in each of the segment frames, determining that a range in which circles of confusion have a diameter equal to or smaller than an allowable circle of confusion is a focus range in the segment frame, laying out the segment frames so that the focus ranges in each two neighboring segment frames overlap with each other, and storing information on at least a layout of the segment frames and the corresponding resolution as a segmented image taking plan in the storage unit.   
     
     
         4 . An imaging method using a computer communicably coupled to a digital camera and a motor-driven tripod head therefor and configured to control image taking by the digital camera, the method causing the computer to execute:
 a process of calculating a distance from an imaging object to a fixed position of the digital camera by using a predetermined equation in accordance with a target resolution to be obtained for an image of the imaging object, a CCD resolution of the digital camera, and a focal length of a lens, and storing the calculated distance in a storage unit;   a process of setting layered resolutions ranging from a resolution of a captured image of the whole imaging object to the target resolution, and storing the set resolutions in the storage unit;   a process of executing a process for each of the resolutions stored in the storage unit, the process including forming segment frames into which an image taking range is segmented by dividing an angle of view of the image taking range by a predetermined angle, laying out the segment frames so that focus ranges in each two neighboring segment frames overlap with each other, and storing information on at least a layout of the segment frames and the corresponding resolution as a segmented image taking plan in the storage unit;   a process of transmitting a command to take an image from a single viewpoint for the positions of the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions, based on the segmented image taking plan containing the layout information and the resolution information stored in the storage unit, to the digital camera and the motor-driven tripod head fixed at the distance from the imaging object, acquiring segmented images taken for the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions from the digital camera, and storing the acquired segmented image in the storage unit; and   a process of executing a process for each of the segmented image taking plans stored in the storage unit, the process including reading each of captured images of a predetermined segmented image taking plan from the storage unit, forming a base image by enlarging the captured image to the same resolution as that of a segmented image taking plan having a one-step-higher resolution among the layered resolutions, determining a corresponding range on the base image for each of segmented images of the segmented image taking plan having the one-step-higher resolution, based on the position of the segmented images, merging the segmented images together by aligning each of the segmented images through pattern matching between the segmented image and the base image, and storing a merged image in the storage unit.   
     
     
         5 . A computer-readable recording medium storing an imaging program, for use in a computer communicably coupled to a digital camera and a motor-driven tripod head therefor and configured to control image taking by the digital camera, the imaging program causing the computer to execute:
 a process of calculating a distance from an imaging object to a fixed position of the digital camera by using a predetermined equation in accordance with a target resolution to be obtained for an image of the imaging object, a CCD resolution of the digital camera, and a focal length of a lens, and storing the calculated distance in a storage unit;   a process of setting layered resolutions ranging from a resolution of a captured image of the whole imaging object to the target resolution, and storing the set resolutions in the storage unit;   a process of executing a process for each of the resolutions stored in the storage unit, the process including forming segment frames into which an image taking range is segmented by dividing an angle of view of the image taking range by a predetermined angle, laying out the segment frames so that focus ranges in each two neighboring segment frames overlap with each other, and storing information on at least a layout of the segment frames and the corresponding resolution as a segmented image taking plan in the storage unit;   a process of transmitting a command to take an image from a single viewpoint for the positions of the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions, based on the segmented image taking plan containing the layout information and the resolution information stored in the storage unit, to the digital camera and the motor-driven tripod head fixed at the distance from the imaging object, acquiring segmented images taken for the respective segment frames for each of the resolutions from the digital camera, and storing the acquired segmented image in the storage unit; and   a process of executing a process for each of the segmented image taking plans stored in the storage unit, the process including reading each of captured images of a predetermined segmented image taking plan from the storage unit, forming a base image by enlarging the captured image to the same resolution as that of a segmented image taking plan having a one-step-higher resolution among the layered resolutions, determining a corresponding range on the base image for each of segmented images of the segmented image taking plan having the one-step-higher resolution, based on the position of the segmented images, merging the segmented images together by aligning each of the segmented images through pattern matching between the segmented image and the base image, and storing a merged image in the storage unit.